Mark 8:14-21 NRSVue
14Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”, 16They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” 17And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears and fail to hear? And do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
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Reflection on Mark 8:14-21
Inspiration from 2025-02-18 Daily Prayer
There are times in the gospels when Jesus must have wondered about his apostles and their slowness to take in his words. This is one of those times. His reaction to them here is so very human in his frustration. Many years ago I attended a stage performance by the actor Alec McCowen where he simply recited the Gospel of Mark. When he came to this part he expressed very well with his voice the frustration of Jesus. How often God has to be patient with us in our own blindness and lack of faith. Let us talk to him about this now and ask for the grace to be patient with our own slowness to understand and our lack of trust.
Further reflection
The disciples are worried about having too little bread, and Jesus is saying: /Surely you have learned that you do not need to worry about that when you are with me?/ Jesus is asking them to learn from their experience and keep their worries in perspective.
I need to learn that myself, Lord. The worries that seem huge in a moment of crisis seem trivial a week later. I survive sickness, temptation and failure, and bounce back. Help me to keep my heart up.
They had no bread but what they forgot was that they had Jesus. Prayer is opening ourselves to the presence of Jesus in our time of prayer and in life. The centre of Christian life and Christian prayer is Jesus. The fruits of Christian prayer are to live like him. The basis of prayer is faith. Ask for an increase in faith, ask to live like him.
The one loaf was all that was necessary. They had forgotten that Jesus could feed the many with the one bread. He cautions them to depend on him in life. The one loaf also looks ahead to the Eucharist. Jesus will identify himself then with a loaf of bread. Our prayer gives us time to allow the mystery of Jesus, the one thing necessary in life, to sink into the depths of our personalities.
"Yeast" here symbolises the evil influences of both the religious and the political leaders of Israel who were at odds with Jesus. Their teaching and their politics could infest the minds and hearts of the disciples. Today's culture with its rampant consumerism and greed can easily infest the hearts and minds of contemporary Christians.